Humanities Geography About Lapse Rate The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate and the Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate Share Flipboard Email Print Aerographers Mate 3rd Class Robert Mason of Chicago, IL, releases a weather balloon from the fantail of the USS Harry S. Truman September 26, 1999. Getty Images Geography Physical Geography Basics Political Geography Population Country Information Climate History Maps Urban Geography View More by Matt Rosenberg Matt Rosenberg is a professional geographer and writer with over 20 years of experience. He is the author of both a geography reference book and a guide to winning National Geography Bee contests. Updated March 17, 2017 As a hypothetical parcel of air cools as it rises in the atmosphere and warms as it descends in the atmosphere. This cooling and warming of the air is known as the lapse rate. There are two primary types of lapse rate - the dry adiabatic lapse rate and the wet or saturated adiabatic lapse rate. Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate If you're having trouble thinking about a parcel of air rising, think of a invisible balloon of air rising. As it rises, it cools as it expands. If it begins to descend it will compress and the temperature will increase. Continue Reading